7295

Purcell - Ten Sonatas in Four Parts

LOCKE CONSORT, THE

Purcell

Physical CD

Price

Normal PCM CD (In stock)

$13.01

Details

Ten Sonatas in Four Parts (1697) Henry Purcell died unexpectedly on 21 November 1695. In the next few months there was an unprecedented outpouring of grief for Englands foremost musician: odes in his memory were written, and moves were made to publish some of his music. His most enduring monument was the song collection Orpheus Britannicus (1698 and 1706), though his widow Frances also issued two collections of hitherto unpublished instrumental music. On 2 April 1696 she announced proposals to print a Collection of Sonatas and other Ayres by subscription. The advertisement was repeated several times in the following weeks, but the time limit for subscriptions had to be extended, and the collect-ions did not appear until the following year, as A Collection of Ayres, Composd for the Theatre and Ten Sonatas in Four Parts.....

The four members of The Locke Consort come from England, the Netherlands, Germany and the United States and are based in Amsterdam. The group takes its name from the composer Matthew Locke (1621/2-1677) and is modelled on the ensemble that Locke directed at the court of Charles II. The unique combination of instruments - two baroque violins, viola da gamba and theorbo - gives the ensemble its very special sound. The Locke Consort has been the recipient of numerous important awards, including two prizes in the International Competition for Early Music (the Netherlands), first prize in the Early Music Network Competition (London) and first prize in the Erwin Bodky Competition (USA). The Locke Consort has performed in important series and festivals throughout Europe and the United States, including performances in Boston, London, Amsterdam and the York and Utrecht Early Music Festivals. In 1988 the ensemble was chosen to take part in the William and Mary tricentennial celebration, performing in the Netherlands, England and the United States. For the Purcell celebrations in 1995, The Locke Consort is once again recognised as one of the leading specialists in English baroque music and will be performing as part of the Purcell festivities throughout Europe and the United States. In addition to their usual performing and recording activities, The Locke Consort has also ventured into new areas. In 1988 they worked together with the baroque dance group Hemiole in a French tour. In 1991 they premiered a new work written for them (Rinuccini by Ron Ford) in the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. They have also recorded music for the Peter Greeneway film The Baby of Macon.